Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton (19) is hurried by San Francisco 49ers defensive end Justin Smith during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

Photo: Paul Connors, Associated Press

Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton (19) is hurried by San...

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GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Randy Moss #84 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammate Kyle Williams #10 after his touchdown catch against the Arizona Cardinals during the third quarter of an NFL game at University of Phoenix Stadium on October 29, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)

Photo: Ralph Freso, Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Randy Moss #84 of the San Francisco...

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Jeremy Piamonte of San Jose, CA hangs out while tailgating before the San Francisco 49ers Arizona Cardinals game at at University of Phoenix Stadium on Monday October 29th, 2012.By ANDY DELISLE/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Photo: Andy DeLisle, SFC

Jeremy Piamonte of San Jose, CA hangs out while tailgating before...

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J.P. Medina of San Jose, CA and friends toast a 49ers win while tailgating before the San Francisco 49ers Arizona Cardinals game at at University of Phoenix Stadium on Monday October 29th, 2012.By ANDY DELISLE/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Photo: Andy DeLisle, SFC

J.P. Medina of San Jose, CA and friends toast a 49ers win while...

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Cardinals' cornerback William Gay tackles 49ers running back Frank Gore in the 1st half at University of Phoenix Stadium on Monday October 29th, 2012.By ANDY DELISLE/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Photo: Andy DeLisle, SFC

Cardinals' cornerback William Gay tackles 49ers running back Frank...

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49ers quarterback Alex Smith drops back for a pass in the 1st half at University of Phoenix Stadium on Monday October 29th, 2012.By ANDY DELISLE/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Photo: Andy DeLisle, SFC

49ers quarterback Alex Smith drops back for a pass in the 1st half...

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Carinals' safety Kerry Rhodes moves to tackle 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree in the 1st half at University of Phoenix Stadium on Monday October 29th, 2012.By ANDY DELISLE/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Photo: Andy DeLisle, SFC

Carinals' safety Kerry Rhodes moves to tackle 49ers receiver...

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Carinals' cornerback Patrick Peterson tackles 49ers receiver Mario Manningham in the 1st half at University of Phoenix Stadium on Monday October 29th, 2012.By ANDY DELISLE/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh argues with a ref after a flag is thrown against his team at University of Phoenix Stadium on Monday October 29th, 2012. San Francisco defeated Arizona 24-3.By ANDY DELISLE/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Photo: Andy DeLisle, SFC

49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh argues with a ref after a flag is...

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49ers defenders stop Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald from getting in the end zone on the Cardinals final drive at University of Phoenix Stadium on Monday October 29th, 2012. San Francisco defeated Arizona 24-3.By ANDY DELISLE/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, center, huddles up with his teammates during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

San Francisco 49ers running back Kendall Hunter (32) is tripped up by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

Photo: Paul Connors, Associated Press

San Francisco 49ers running back Kendall Hunter (32) is tripped up...

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San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Paris Lenon during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

San Francisco 49ers running back Kendall Hunter (32) is tripped up against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

Photo: Paul Connors, Associated Press

San Francisco 49ers running back Kendall Hunter (32) is tripped up...

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith drinks during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Photo: Ross D. Franklin, Associated Press

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith drinks during the first...

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GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Michael Crabtree #15 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a touchdown in front of Daryl Washington #58 of the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on October 29, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

Photo: Norm Hall, Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Michael Crabtree #15 of the San...

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GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Delanie Walker $46 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch in front of a diving Kerry Rhodes #25 of the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on October 29, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

Photo: Norm Hall, Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Delanie Walker $46 of the San Francisco...

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GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Vernon Davis #85 of the San Francisco 49ers attempts to break a tackle against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on October 29, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

Photo: Norm Hall, Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Vernon Davis #85 of the San Francisco...

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GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Quarterback John Skelton #19 of the Arizona Cardinals is sacked by Ahmad Brooks #55 and Justin Smith #94 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter of an NFL game at University of Phoenix Stadium on October 29, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)

Photo: Ralph Freso, Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Quarterback John Skelton #19 of the...

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GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Chris Culliver #29 of the San Francisco 49ers knocks down a pass intended for Michael Floyd #15 of the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on October 29, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. 49rs won 24-3. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

Photo: Norm Hall, Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Chris Culliver #29 of the San Francisco...

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton (19) looks to pass under pressure from San Francisco 49ers defensive end Justin Smith during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals is stopped short of the endzone by Perrish Cox #20 and Dashon Goldson #38 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter of an NFL game at University of Phoenix Stadium on October 29, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)

Photo: Ralph Freso, Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the...

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San Francisco 49ers' Michael Crabtree (15) breaks away from Arizona Cardinals' Patrick Peterson (21) after making a catch during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Randy Moss acknowledges the crowd during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals , Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (11) is hurried by Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

Photo: Paul Connors, Associated Press

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (11) is hurried by...

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San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) celebrates his sack of Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton with Parys Haralson during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Photo: Matt York, Associated Press

San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) celebrates...

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San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh watches from the sidelines agaist the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Photo: Ross D. Franklin, Associated Press

San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh watches from the...

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Smith would have entered the NFL history books with one more completed pass.

In a 24-3 prime-time dismantling of the Cardinals, Smith answered pregame questions about a supposedly fragile psyche by looking exceedingly confident while completing 18 of 19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns.

Smith's completion percentage (94.7) was the best in NFL history with a minimum of 15 attempts, but the league record book requires 20. His lone incompletion was a catchable throw that tight end Delanie Walker dropped. Smith also had a career-best 157.1 rating (158.3 is perfect) and tossed two 3rd-and-goal touchdowns to Michael Crabtree to give the 49ers a 17-0 halftime lead.

Smith's performance came on the heels of a Sports Illustrated story that theorized he'd lost his confidence, partly because of back-to-back lackluster performances in which he posted a combined 55.5 rating and tossed four interceptions.

In the afterglow, Smith declined to raise his sprained middle finger to his critics, opting for humor instead.

What about that lost confidence?

"It was in my closet," Smith said. "I found it. It was in there."

Later, he turned a bit more serious when asked if the latest round of what's-wrong-with-the-49ers'-quarterback chatter bothered him. Smith, after all, is 19-5 as a starter since 2011, authored one of the greatest playoff comebacks in franchise history in January and entered Monday's game with a top-10 passer rating.

"That's the nature of the NFL," Smith said. "That's the nature of professional sports. We only play once a week, so all those days in between people have to write things. It's part of the deal."

Jim Harbaugh was a bit more, um, colorful when asked about the matter of his quarterback's self-belief: "I don't think there was ever a question there. I just think it was a lot of gobble, gobble turkey. Just gobble, gobble turkey, funk-jive turkey gobblers. That paints a pretty good picture. He's a very confident guy."

Before kickoff, at the team hotel, left tackle Joe Staley said he heard a member of the Arizona secondary say on ESPN that the Cardinals wanted to make Smith beat them.

A few hours later, Arizona unveiled a stop-the-run game plan that was moderately effective in slowing running back Frank Gore (55 yards, 3.4 yards a carry). San Francisco finished with 113 rushing yards and averaged 3.9 an attempt.

"Those guys had their whole team in the box," Gore said.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, that didn't leave anyone to assist second-year cornerback Patrick Peterson, who was beaten on each of Smith's touchdown tosses to Crabtree.

On Smith's 3-yard, first-quarter strike, the fourth-year wideout outmuscled Peterson in the right corner, displaying strong hands to hang onto the ball against in-his-face coverage. Late in the second quarter, Crabtree caught his 9-yard touchdown at the 7-yard line, gave Peterson a shimmy that dropped the corner to the ground and ran untouched into the end zone.

In the third quarter, Smith added a 47-yard toss to Randy Moss, who caught the ball at the 42, brushed aside cornerback Jamell Fleming, juked linebacker Paris Lenon and outran his pursuers down the left sideline.

"They wanted to put the ball in Alex's hands, try to have him beat them," Staley said. "And he kicked their ass tonight."

Of course, Smith's critics - there are surely some who remain - will note that his receivers did much of the work Monday with their run-after-the-catch ability. Moss' touchdown was the most obvious example, but Crabtree also danced through Arizona defenders.

Can Smith, whose 97.3 rating ranks seventh in the NFL and is higher than those of Super Bowl winners Drew Brees and Eli Manning, ever silence the skeptics?

"At this point, I don't care," he said. "If you had asked me that a few years ago, maybe. ... I am only concerned about winning and the guys in the locker room (who) know what I'm about. That's all that really maters."

Which was better?

Twice in October, Alex Smith came oh-so-close to a perfect NFL passer rating of 158.3. A look at those two games: